EU requires air conditioning installers to inform buyers of their energy efficiency

Under a law that was proposed by the European Union on Wednesday, installers of air conditioning units will have to "tell" their customers how energy-efficient these systems are. This is to help consumers manage their energy bills.

This week Europe has been sweltering under a heatwave that is unprecedented. It's part of an overall trend of hotter and more intense heatwaves on the continent. Many Europeans have even considered installing air conditioning systems for the first.

The European Commission has proposed new rules which would require that companies who install air conditioning units, boilers and appliances for the kitchen in the EU show their customers the "energy performance label" of the products they are installing when they send a quote.

A Commission official explained: "If, for example, you go home to call an installer to try and have an air conditioner installed in your apartment this afternoon because you can't take the heat, it's unlikely that the installers will provide the labels with their offers." "We want to fix that."

Customers often buy these appliances from local installers, meaning they may not be able view them in a shop or check their specifications online.

These purchases are often made in a hurry, when a boiler breaks down, for instance, and the customer does not have time to do research on the new product, to select a more energy-efficient system, to reduce their energy bill.

The final rules will be negotiated by EU member states and legislators, which is a lengthy process.

Air conditioning has historically been less popular in Europe than in North America. However, global warming is forcing some people to consider investing in air conditioning or using existing systems more often. This week, stores in France and Spain reported a surge in sales of air conditioning units. Yandri is a 28-year-old Spanish plumber who told?on?Monday that he sleeps while the air conditioning runs. You will be shocked by the bill. He said, "It's going to be a big bill." (Reporting and editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak; Additional reporting by Guillermo Martinez, Madrid)

(source: Reuters)